2 men arrested in robbery of 100-year-old veteran

CARSON CITY — Two men were jailed Thursday in the home invasion robbery of a 100-year-old Carson City veteran and his caretaker over Memorial Day weekend.

James Sorrentino was robbed at gunpoint around 5 a.m. Sunday when two men kicked and pried open a door at his home in a gated community and held a gun to the head of his caretaker, Sheriff Ken Furlong said.

Furlong said Sorrentino was "flipping over the top" when he learned the suspects were arrested. Sorrentino, who celebrates a birthday every six months so as not to miss an opportunity, turns 101 in October.

"We believe he was targeted," Furlong said Thursday, but added investigators don't know why the WWII Army Air Corps and Air Force veteran would be a target.

"Other than being vulnerable, we don't know why," the sheriff said.

Authorities said the two men forced their way into Sorrentino's home looking for a safe, but Sorrentino doesn't have one. After ransacking the home, they fled with a wristwatch, pocketknife and wallet containing $30.

Robert Hernandez, 27, of Carson City, was arrested Wednesday on a probation violation carrying a no-bail hold. Authorities later identified him as a suspect in the robbery.

The second man, Jordan Burkhart, 24, of Wellington, was picked up by police in Sparks after a short foot chase.

Both were being held on warrants charging them with multiple felonies, including armed robbery, burglary, assault, and crimes committed against someone over 60. Bail on those charges was set at $250,000.

It was not immediately known if they have attorneys.

"It doesn't make any sense, we know it doesn't," Furlong said about a possible motive.